CORROSION IN OIL AND

GAS PIPELINES
In oil and gas pipeline there are variety of
reasons that cause corrosion .Basically for
those pipes that supply or transport crude oil
also contain water thats always entrained in
the pipline stream.
Investigations show that Crude oil itself is not
corrosive as such in conditions at which
pipelines are operated but the sediments and
water accumulation are the reasons that
cause corrosion. While transporting light
crude the water being higher in density
separates at bottom and potentially can settle
down if flow conditions are not monitored. The
settling of sediments that forms at local
conditions gives rise to pitting corrosion .
Pitting corrosion and microbilogically induced
are the types of corrosion that are caused due
settling of sediments and mic(bacteria and
other harmful organisms that form colonies).
Prima facie it seems that water and bacteria
are the reasons that cause corrosion and

inherently crude oil etc are not corrosive. But

there are many types of corrosion we will
mention and analyse them categorically.

TYPES OF CORROSION
ENCOUNTERED:
COROSSION DUE TO IMPURITIES
CARBON DIOXIDE ATTACK:
Co2 gas in the feed can cause severe pitting
and dissolution of the pipeline that are mainly
made of iron and steel pipelines as they need
to be transported to long distances.
Governing rxn

Its clear how fe dissolves and this scale of iron

carbonate at high temp even causes further
problem.

SULPHUR DIOXIDE ATTACK:

Sulphide attack is called the sour attack.it causes

hydrogen embrittlement as clearly seen from the
rxn.
Sulphide itself is not corrosive but traces of water
makes it corrosive. Atomic hydrogen can easily
breach the surface and go and stay in inclusion and
cause stress to build up and which ultimately leads
to hydrogen attack.

PITTING AND MIC:

Due to settling of sediments as discussed
previously in the opening remarks both othe
above are natural .

also cause corrosion.

ALLOY SELECTION:
DUE TO HIGH RISK OF PITTTING AND STRESS CORROSION
ATTACK THE IN CARBON STEEL AND COATED SYSTEM
ALLOY OF NICKEL CAN CERTAINLY INCREASE THE PITTING

RESISTANCE.ALSO NICKEL CAN BE ECONOMICAL FOR

LONG USE OF PIPELINES
SS31803 (STAINLESS STEEL WITH NICKEL AS ALLOYING
ELEMENT).

Carbon steel (in comparison with clad and lined

pipe) has to be protected from corrosion(this is a
economically unviable) by the injection of corrosion
inhibiting chemicals. Nickel alloy N08825 along
with ss31803 and stainless steel-clad and -lined
pipelines solve the problem of transporting wet
corrosive oil and gas without requiring inhibitor
injection to prevent corrosion.
Nickel alloys are also the safe choice for the
development of oil and gas reserves that contain
hydrogen sulphide. In many cases, these
development projects are in remote parts of the
world and are therefore automated to the extent
that they operate largely without personnel. Nickel
alloys provide the reliability that is essential for
these types of projects.

Corrosion Protection
Mechanism:
Most popular protection mechanisms
are

Impressed current method , this is

used second line of protection along
with protective coating where power
houses supply current to keep the
pipelines cathodic.

CORROSION MITIGATION
SOLUTIONS:
Coating the alloy system for
additional protection such that they
can act as impervious layer.
Fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) and a three-layer polyolefin (3LPO) (polyethylene or polypropylene (PP))
are currently the most widely used external anticorrosion coating systems.

EVEN USING glassy substance as

anti-coating material can solve the
purpose.
Solution 2:
Since we know mic is huge
possibility so we can use
inhibhitors and also biocides that
destroy the biological colonies and
dont let them flourish

Solution 3:

Since the sediment deposition is

problem that can be solved using
proper flow rate .
Highly turbulent flow will ensure
mixing and
Not let the sediments settle.
Designing the system can easily
solve this problem the elbows or
sharp turns cause acceleration so
these can be potential sites for
sedimentation. So these should be
properly monitored.
Solution 4:
Proper and timely inspection are
best solutions to solve billions of
dollars . to carry out timely
maintenance industries mostly use
pigging. Many of these pigs are

introduced into pipelines using

cassette into pipelines. These help
in removing deposits and monitor
the pipeline sections during
operation.